Statistics at University of South Alabama

The immediate challenge here is the exceptionally small sample size—South Alabama appears to be the only institution in our data reporting bachelor's-level Statistics outcomes in Alabama, with fewer than 30 graduates tracked. That makes these numbers more of a warning flag than a reliable benchmark. The $32,181 starting salary lands this program in just the 5th percentile nationally for statistics degrees, dramatically below the $59,718 national median. While the 60th percentile state ranking sounds better, remember: there's essentially no in-state comparison group.

The 40% earnings growth to $45,091 by year four shows positive momentum, and the debt load of $22,532 is actually reasonable—below both national and typical borrowing levels. But even with that improvement, graduates are still earning roughly $15,000 less than the typical statistics graduate nationally after four years. For a field that typically commands strong salaries due to high demand for data skills, these outcomes suggest either graduates are working in lower-paying sectors, staying in a relatively low-wage regional market, or this small cohort isn't representative of what future students might experience.

If your child is set on statistics and South Alabama for other reasons (cost, location, family circumstances), understand they'll likely need to be strategic about internships and willing to relocate for better-paying markets. The debt is manageable, but the earnings gap is real. Given the data uncertainty, have serious conversations with the department about job placement specifics and alumni outcomes before committing.